VMware's SpringSource division this week announced the release of its tc Server 2.0 platform, providing a commercially supported version of the open source Apache Tomcat server for enterprise users.

As part of the tc Server 2.0 release, SpringSource is also expanding the platform with a new Spring version, offering tc Server users the ability to run Spring Java applications.

The new Spring edition of tc Server 2.0 also provides expanded integration with virtualization technologies from VMware (NYSE: VMW), enabling developers to deploy apps to both real and virtual environments. With tc Server 2.0, SpringSource is aiming help both developers and server operators get the best performance out of their Java applications.

"This really culminates our strategy when we launched the product last May to really provide a solid developer edition and a platform that the application operators can use so they can ensure that applications meet their business goals," Shaun Connolly, vice president of product management at SpringSource, told InternetNews.com.

VMware acquired SpringSource for $420 million in September 2009, after the initial tc Server launch. SpringSource launched the original edition of tc Server almost a year ago as a way to provide commercial support for a lightweight Java middleware server. Previously, only two versions were available -- the standard edition and the freely available developer edition. Both versions are also receiving an update as part of the tc Server 2.0 rollout.

"There is increased functionality across the board in this release," Connolly said.

The free developer edition provides the core functionality of the tc Server, while the standard edition includes application provisioning, centralized server configuration and commercial support.

"The new Spring edition adds a fully supported Spring on tc Server stack with the operational metrics and some more sophisticated ways of dealing with alerts," Connolly said. "So you get a deeper experience from an operational standpoint in terms of measuring and managing applications in production."

The tc Server application management server is built on technology from management vendor Hyperic, which SpringSource acquired in May 2009. With Hyperic, users who need additional monitoring capabilities they can upgrade and add them in, Connolly said.

As part of the upgrade, SpringSource is providing integration between the tc Server and VMware Workstation and VMware Lab Manager virtualization products. Connolly noted that the goal is to enable deployment flexibility for developers and production people to be able to deploy across virtual environments.

While Spring framework, management and virtualization features are all included in the release, SpringSource's tc Server is also improving as the core Apache Tomcat server continues to evolve.

"We are in line with the latest Apache 6.x version number and since our engineers on staff are helping to drive Tomcat capabilities we stay on top of the latest releases," Connolly said. "There is a Tomcat 7 out in the community, but we'll wait for that to bake in the open source community before we consider it to be enterprise-ready."